Venetian blind



Oct. 23, 1945'. A. THEXTON VENETIAN BLIND Filed Dec. -7, 1943 slat ends.

Patented Oct. 23, 1945 Arthur L. Thexton, Cincinnati, Ohio,

assignor to Clopay Corporatiorii, Cincinnati, Ohio, at corporation of Marylan Application December 7, 1943, Serial No. 513,248

Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds. It is directed particularly to improved structures which are inexpensive to fabricate and which are characterized particularly in that the individual blind slats are removable in order that they may be washed or cleaned without dismantling the other parts.

rapidly collect dirt and periodically must be taken out for thorough cleansing.

In the past various structures have been proposed in which the lift cords pass through aperslots or entrance passageways whereby the slats individually may be disengaged from the cords. However, the provision of these I passageways weakens the slat loom.

reenforce them during normal usageand which in turn are carried upon webs or ribbons sus- The slats are provided with apertures into which lift cords may be introduced through passageways extending to the However, these passageways, upon assembly of the structure, are closed by the slat supporting brackets and thereby protected against damage through lift cord movements. The brackets also prevent escape of the lift cords from the apertures within which they reside. The ribbons from which the brackets are supported are simple, inexpensive tapes which, if desirable, may be made of translucent or transparent materials to improve the appearance of the structure as a whole, or of canvas taping if structures are desired which are visually similar to those now used. The slat supporting tapes of the present invention may be made of coated materials, fibre glass or the like, in order that their surfaces do not tend to catch dust and are easy to clean. As previously indicated, materials of this type cannot be employed in the fabrication of the woven ladder tapes conventionally used. The attachment or suspension of the brackets from the tapes may be accomplished in various ways but preferably comprises friction or slip connections which permit the brackets to be disengaged when the tapes porting bracket, the slat being shown in its engaged position in the bracket in the dot and dash ines.

Figure 3 is a of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a. sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view showing a slip connection between the slat supporting bracket ment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an-elevation of a Venetian blind organization of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a slat sup tion of the drawing in which a preferred embodiare to be washed or scrubbed.

Other details and further embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following descripand tape.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form of connection.

Figure '7 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 2 showing the bracket member supported from plan view taken on the line 3-3 the tapes.

The Venetian blind may comprise the usual rail i at the top of the apparatus which may be suspended pivotally in hangers in order to provide adjustability in the angulation of the slats. The tilting apparatus, the cords and tilt or headrail structure do' not form any part of the present invention and therefore are not described in detail.

raif in any convenient manner, for example, by stapling at the upper surface whereby they are draped over the sidewise edges. A bottom rail 3 is positioned between the pairs of tapes to support their lower ends and provide some weight to keep the tapes taut and straight.

As previously indicated the tapes may be made of any suitable material preferably of a cellulosic or plastic substance such as laminated Cellophane, cellulose acetate, orsimilar flexible plastic material, particularly if translucency or transparency is desired, or they may be made of a suitable woven fabric or coated material suitably reenforced at its edges. The hangers indicated generally at [have their opposite endwise portions respectively connected to the tapes of each pair whereby the brackets span the tapes and act as slat supporting rungs.

Each bracket preferably is a thin sheet metal article consisting of a base 5, attachment ears 8. which are formed at the ends of the body, a reenforcement and stop flange 1 which is bent up from the body at its outer longitudinal or lateral edge and a gap .8 extending into the body from its opposite lateral edge. The gap preferably terminates in a closure flange 9 which extends upwardly from the body a spaced distance from the edgewise flange 1. Each bracket may be fabricated conveniently and economically by stamping but it is also to be understood that the body may be made of a moulded plastic composition if a colorful ornamental appearance is desired.

at to may be of the usual type, made of wood, laminated cellulosic materials, metal or plastic strips, and, in the usual way, the slats span the blind and form the light controlling elements. In accordance with the present invention, however, each slat adjacent its opposite ends has a lateral aperture H and a longitudinal aperture or slot l2 which interconnects the lateral aperture II with the slat edge or end, as shown in the drawin these openings in the slats cooperate with the bracket to provide the reenforcement and cord locking features described previously. Thus, the lateral aperture ll preferably is elongated and it is spaced away from the edge or end of the slat, as the case may be, a distance corresponding to the spacing between the flanges 1 and 9 of the bracket so that, when the end of the slat is aligned with the edge of the bracket (or abuts the end wall 1) the lateral stop flange 8 will extend up through the aperture H and form a closure for slot l2.

It is to benoted that the a tachment ears 8 are spaced apart from one another a distance, corresponding substantially to the slat width so that a free loose sidewise movement of the slat upon its support is prevented. It also is to be ob served that the base of the bracket may have an overall convex or concave configuration to accommodate slats which are curved in cross section in order that they may be stiffened against sagging in their longitudinal direction. For windows of average width the slats may be supported in the brackets at their endwise portions only without undue sagging of the slats at the central portion of the window area. However, other sets of brackets may be provided to support the slat from tapes at portions intermediate the ends, though, usually, only one pair of lift cords is necessary and in this event the lateral flanges I and 9 may be omitted.

The lift cords, designated l3, pass through the gaps 8 of the supporting brackets and through the lift cord apertures ll of the slat. Each lift cord has its lower end connected to the bottom rail while its upper end is strung over suitable pulleys provided at the tilt or head rail and depend from the upper part of the window at one side of the blind where they are accessible.

When the housewife desires to remove the slats individually for cleaning purposes they are 'lifted from their bracket seats at each end. As the endwise portion of a slat is raised above the upper edge of the blocking flanges 9 the entrance slot l2 becomes opened or unblocked and the slat, therefore, may be disengaged from the cord, for instance, by pushing the portion of the cord which lies above the bracket out through the entrance slot. When this has been done, at each end, the slats conveniently may be removed from the spaces between the tapes. The slats are installed by followin the reverse procedure. The parts preferably are dimensioned so that either the endwise or edgewise ears 6, or the lateral flanges 1 and 9, or all of these elements of each bracket form a snug flt with the slat so that the slats finally may be snapped into final resting position.

The slats of the structure, indicated generally The pierced configuration in the surfaces of the edgewise ears 6, shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, comprises one suitable means for effecting attachment of the supporting brackets to the tapes. Thus, as in Figure 2, there are two horizontal slots marked M which extend in a substantially horizontal direction and a slot l5 extending in a vertical direction and connecting the horizontal slots. These apertures serve the purpose of delineating tangs l6 which, bein yieldable, constitute frictional attachment elements. At each bracket ear the tape is threaded through the upper and lower horizontal slots It to lie against the upper and lower portions of the ears while the opposite face of the tape is resiliently embraced by tangs l6. Horizontal slots l4 preferably are sufficiently long to permit the tape to be arranged in this position by entering one edge of the tape through the vertical slot l5 until the opposite edge is cleared. The structure shown in Figure 6 is similar to that shown in Figure 5 but the tangs l6 are of greater width and may serve as decorative elements as well as fastenin devices. Through either of these arrangements the supporting brackets are slidably mounted upon the suspension tapes and the assembly may be dismantled conveniently when required. The sliding connection of the supporting brackets also enables the spacing of the slats to be ad- Justed. It is to be observed, however, that the invention contemplates various connections between the brackets and tapes other than those shown, for instance, by stitching or cementing.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind, the combination of lift cords, a rail, pairs of tapes suspended respectively from the opposite edges of the rail at each end thereof, brackets having their endwise portions connected to the tapes and having lift cord gaps therethrough, and slats having slots extending therein from the edges thereof to clear said lift cords, said slats being seated upon said brackets.

2. In aVenetian blind structure, the combination of a pair of tapes arranged in spaced relationship, a slat seat bracket having its endwise portions connected respectively with said tapes and a slat seated upon said bracket, said bracket having a gap in one marginal edge thereof and said slat having a gap in an edge thereof which is for lateral confinement out of alignment with said bracket edge, the said gaps being overlapped to delineate an aperture for passage of. a lift cord whereby said slat may be removed when unseated without dismantling the balance of the blind assembly.

3. A bracket for a Venetian blind which is adapted to support a slat, comprising a sheet'metal piece having laterally extending-ears at its opposite ends which are adapted for connection with spaced supporting tapes, an upstanding flange extending across the bracket between said ears, and having a gap extending into said bracket from an edge thereof and terminating a spaced distance from said flange.

4. n a Venetian blind, the combination, with a pair of tapes suspended from a rail, of a bracket having its endwise portions connected across said tapes to act as a seat and a slat supported by said seat between said tapes, the said bracket having a gap extending therein from one lateral edge thereof and the said slat having a gap extending,

therein from an edge thereof which is out of alignment withsaid lateral edge of said bracket, the said gaps having portions thereof overlapping and delineating an aperture devoid of outlets for confinement of a lift cord when the slat is seated on the bracket, and the said gap in said slat facilitating removal of the slat without dismantling said lift cord when unseated from said bracket.

5. In a Venetian blind, the combination, with a pair of tapes depending from a rail, of a bracket member having its endwise portions connected to said tapes and a slat having its endwise portion seated upon said bracket, the said slat having a gap extending therein from an edge thereof and said bracket having a gap in an opposite portion thereof, the two gaps having mutually overlapping edge portions whereby the gap in the bracket and the gap in the slat seated upon the bracket together delineate an aperture devoid of outlets of a lift cord. 1

6. In a Venetian blind, the combination, with a pair of tapes suspended from a rail, of a bracket having its endwise portions connected across said tapes to act as a seat and a slat supported by said seat between said tapes, the said bracket having a gap extending therein from one lateral edge thereof, and the said slat having a gap extending therein from an edge thereof which is out of alignment with said lateral edge of said bracket, the said gaps having portions thereof overlapping and delineating an aperture devoid of outlets, and means for holding said slat in predetermined position upon said bracket.

7. In a Venetian blind, the combination, with a pair of tapes suspended from a rail, of a bracket having its endwise portions connected across said said lift cord therefrom tapes to act as a seat, and a slat supported by said seat between said tapes, the said bracket having a gap extending therein from one lateral edge thereof, and the said slat having a gap extending therein from an edge thereof which is out of alignment with said lateral edge of said bracket, the said gaps having portions thereof overlapping and delineating an aperture devoid of outlets, and

means for holding said slat in predetermined position upon said bracket comprising a lateral flange extending across said bracket for abutment against an end of said slat and another flange for engaging a portion of the gap in said slat.

8. In a Venetian blind, the combination, with a pair of tapes suspended from a rail, of a cross member extending across said tapes and having its endwise portions connected thereto, and a slat supported by said cross member, the cross member having a gap extending therein from an edge thereof and the slat also having a gap extending therein from an edge thereof, the said gaps being positioned in offset relationship with respect to one another and having mutually overlapping portions delineating an aperture devoid of lateral outlets.

9. In a Venetian blind, the combination, with a pair of tapes suspended from a rail, of a cross member extending across said tapes and having its endwise portions movably connected thereto, and a slat supported by said cross member, the cross member having a gap extending therein from an edge thereof and the slat also having a slot extending therein from .an edge thereof, the said gap and slot being positioned in oiiset relationship with respect to one another and having overlapping portions delineating an aperture devoid of lateral outlets, the said cross member constituted by a sheet metal stamping and having earsbent laterally therefrom for connection to said tapes.

10. In a Venetian blind, the combination, with a pair of tapes suspended from a rail, of a cross member extending between said tapes and having its endwise portions movably connected] thereto,

and a slat supported by said cross member, the

cross member having a gap extending therein from an edge thereof, and the slat having a T shaped slot communicating with an end thereof. the said gap and slot being positioned in offset relationship with respect to one another and having mutually overlapping portions delineating a lift cord aperture devoid of lateral outlets, the said T-shaped slot facilitating removal of the slat from the blind assembly without dismantling when said slat is separated from the cross member.

ARTHUR L. 'I'HEXTON. 

